Kensal Productions has revealed the first look at The Engineer, the feature documentary marking the debut film of director Sam Reynard now in post-production. Produced by Esme Stanford-Durkin and edited by the award-winning Johnny Burke (Williams, A Northern Soul).
The film follows the extraordinary life of Sam’s father, Adrian Reynard, the fearless innovator whose designs revolutionised motorsport and whose appetite for risk remains undiminished as he prepares for one final land speed record attempt on a motorbike at the age of 74.
At just 19, Reynard broke the World Land Speed Record on a bike he built himself. He went on to found Reynard Racing Cars, which became the largest race car manufacturer of the 1970s and ’80s, producing radical designs that redefined performance, shaped the future of motorsport, and ultimately led to the formation of their own Formula 1 team, British American Racing.
Alongside Reynard himself, the film features candid interviews with motorsport icons including Sir Jackie Stewart, Toto Wolff, Eddie Jordan, Jacques Villeneuve, Otmar Szafnauer, and other legendary figures from the racing world. The documentary also explores his deeply personal story, including how his engineering ingenuity helped his daughter Daniella defy the odds after being born with a rare genetic condition.
“Motorsport has changed,” said director Sam Reynard. “The solo journey from tinkering in your garage to Formula 1 is no longer possible. Adrian Reynard was the last of his kind, a dying breed of engineers. His obsession is reflected in the extreme risks he still takes today, at the age of 74. That is the kind of person you need to be – obsessed. I have witnessed firsthand the effect that this unwavering ambition can have on those you love, and I want to tell that story.”
